topic Re: Allergy Testing in Wellness

Allergy Testing

Bridgegal — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 13:48:15 GMT

I finally saw a Dr. last Thursday for allergy testing.

What I didn't know was that afterwards for who knows how many days, it feels like I have 25 mosquito bites on my back. Whoa, do they itch. I should have made the connection but I didn't.

Not complaining, just saying. If you have it done, expect to itch for days and days.

Re: Allergy Testing

Pook — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 13:56:40 GMT

@Bridgegal I had allergy tests and never experienced that. They did both the patch test and the needle tests on my arms. I only have moderate mold allergies and no others so maybe if you have many allergies that could be why.

Re: Allergy Testing

CherryHugs — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 14:22:42 GMT

Ive had allergy tests and some of the areas on my back from the tests got red and really itched!

Re: Allergy Testing

Kachina624 — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 15:50:36 GMT

@Bridgegal Between the dust and the juniper, you're living in a bad place for allergies. I've known people who had to move out of NM because their juniper allergy was so bad.

I've been meaning to ask you if you ever found a house? Or maybe y'all decided to build one?

Re: Allergy Testing

qbetzforreal — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 17:01:14 GMT

@Bridgegal- Itching is a sign of sensitivity and it should itch for days. The doctor's should have given you something for the itching. Try OTC Benadryl. It will make you sleepy. Half dose during the day and full dose at bedtime.

If no relief, contact your allergist.

Re: Allergy Testing

Bridgegal — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 17:19:43 GMT

@qbetzforreal wrote:
@Bridgegal- Itching is a sign of sensitivity and it should itch for days. The doctor's should have given you something for the itching. Try OTC Benadryl. It will make you sleepy. Half dose during the day and full dose at bedtime.

If no relief, contact your allergist.

Interesting that you mention Benadryl. He asked what I'd been doing/taking and I told him one OTC Children's Benadryl. He said to stop taking any Benadryl. Numerous studies have show a connection with dimentia and other things that aren't good.

Re: Allergy Testing

Bridgegal — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 17:22:24 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Bridgegal Between the dust and the juniper, you're living in a bad place for allergies. I've known people who had to move out of NM because their juniper allergy was so bad.

I've been meaning to ask you if you ever found a house? Or maybe y'all decided to build one?

Yes, we bought and moved in 4 Fridays ago. I tested very high on most trees, pollen, grasses and weeds. The things I'm not allergic to are things that aren't even here. 😆We aren't moving again so I just hope the regime he has me on helps.

Re: Allergy Testing

ECBG — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 00:23:09 GMT

@Bridgegal

It's unprofessional of a doctor not to take better care of you.

I would have called them the moring on the second day or the afternoon of the test if possible.

I am very high in allergiesaccording to the top allery group here.. The nurses use "anti itch" spray after my allergy shots.

Re: Allergy Testing

JeanLouiseFinch — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 00:54:41 GMT

I had allergy testing done a few months ago. All of my test spots were back to normal by the evening or next morning. You can take some Benadryl to calm the itching.

Re: Allergy Testing

VaBelle35 — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 01:03:16 GMT

The problem with them being on your back is that with clothes on and laying on your back the skin heats up so it's like it's re-triggering again.

I had the one for preservatives done about 2 years ago. That is a week long saga and you can't wear a bra or anything tight because you have all these plastic tags on your back for several days then you have to go back mid week to have it looked at and then back on Friday to have the tags removed (the ones that haven't fallen off by then). Very expensive and not worth the money or the time.

Re: Allergy Testing

NYCLatinaMe — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 17:34:02 GMT

@Bridgegal wrote:
@qbetzforreal wrote:
@Bridgegal- Itching is a sign of sensitivity and it should itch for days. The doctor's should have given you something for the itching. Try OTC Benadryl. It will make you sleepy. Half dose during the day and full dose at bedtime.

If no relief, contact your allergist.
Interesting that you mention Benadryl. He asked what I'd been doing/taking and I told him one OTC Children's Benadryl. He said to stop taking any Benadryl. Numerous studies have show a connection with dimentia and other things that aren't good.

I wouldn't take anything without checking with the doctor conducting the tests. After going through that, I wouln't want to do anything to interefere with the results.

I am intrigued about your Benadryl comments. It is my medicine of choice to stop ocasional allergic reactions because I don't get relief from the newer medications. Will look into it but if you have information readily available on this, I would love to see it.

Re: Allergy Testing

Bridgegal — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 23:54:25 GMT

@NYCLatinaMe wrote:
@Bridgegal wrote:
@qbetzforreal wrote:
@Bridgegal- Itching is a sign of sensitivity and it should itch for days. The doctor's should have given you something for the itching. Try OTC Benadryl. It will make you sleepy. Half dose during the day and full dose at bedtime.

If no relief, contact your allergist.
Interesting that you mention Benadryl. He asked what I'd been doing/taking and I told him one OTC Children's Benadryl. He said to stop taking any Benadryl. Numerous studies have show a connection with dimentia and other things that aren't good.
I wouldn't take anything without checking with the doctor conducting the tests. After going through that, I wouln't want to do anything to interefere with the results.

I am intrigued about your Benadryl comments. It is my medicine of choice to stop ocasional allergic reactions because I don't get relief from the newer medications. Will look into it but if you have information readily available on this, I would love to see it.

Sorry, I don't. I didn't ask for any articles or studies on it. He was emphatic about that , I will say.

Re: Allergy Testing

Bridgegal — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 00:05:46 GMT

@ECBG wrote:
@Bridgegal

It's unprofessional of a doctor not to take better care of you.

I would have called them the moring on the second day or the afternoon of the test if possible.

I am very high in allergiesaccording to the top allery group here.. The nurses use "anti itch" spray after my allergy shots.

I have to respond to this. I believe he 'took great ' care of me. Just about anyone you ask here will recommend this doctor for diagnosis and treatment of allergies. I was there for two hours++ and both he and the technician that did the testing were great. She told me every step of the way what she was doing and why.

He came in and asked detailed questions about my symptoms, history of allergies and we discussed this in detail. Along the way he explained all about allergies: types, reactions etc and my experiences.

I never felt rushed nor not listened too. He asked about my overall medical history. We talked about my recent (2.5 year) loss of smell and taste and discussed how that probably isn't allergy related, it possibly could be and how we would proceed to try solve that question.

To say that he was unprofessional in his care based upon one statement I made about itching the next day is ridiculous and unfair. I realized the next morning when I woke up with itching that of course that would occur having been pricked with the very things I'm allergic too.

I was in no way disappointed nor worried about his care. I was very impressed with the visit and it confirmed what people say about him.

Re: Allergy Testing

Deree — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 10:43:58 GMT

I have mild allergies in the grand scheme of things, and pretty typical ones like dust mites, tree and grass pollen. Fortunately, not bad enough to even take anything for it during allergy season.

Just last week, I went in specifically to be tested for an avocado allergy. I've had an avocado plant for about 25 years that I grew from a pit. I had recently pruned it and got a very severe rash on the inside of my forearm where the sap probably made contact. I do have a latex allergy and understand there's cross-reactivity between plants in the rubber tree family and latex. But I was concerned that would apply to eating things that have a cross-reactivity, such as avocado itself, mangoes, bananas, and a few other things.

Passed my avocado test with flying colors, but the allergist said I may also want to come back and they will "feed me" small amounts of avocado to watch for a reaction. I felt confident enough that I did that at home. Woo hoo! No reaction and I wound up eating almost 1/2 an avocado. So happy because I really enjoy it.

Re: Allergy Testing

VaBelle35 — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 11:55:15 GMT

I have a contact allergy with figs. I have to be careful to wash my hands after touching them.

I also get a reaction from using WEN Fig scent so I have to use that sparingly and wash it out well.

Re: Allergy Testing

VaBelle35 — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 12:09:28 GMT

Thanks for the tip about Benadryl. The same ingredient is in Advil PM and I take that more than I should, so I will stop that based on a couple of studies I read just now quickly on Pubmed.

Re: Allergy Testing

Bridgegal — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 15:40:19 GMT

@VaBelle35 wrote:
Thanks for the tip about Benadryl. The same ingredient is in Advil PM and I take that more than I should, so I will stop that based on a couple of studies I read just now quickly on Pubmed.

Yes, he mentioned that too. He said to avoid the nighttime meds because they too contain Benadryl. I used to take them most every night but my sleep has improved and no longer need them.